Locking tool holder



June 17, 1969 P. c. RAMER LOC K ING TOOL HOLDER Filed Nov United States Patent US. Cl. 224 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tool holder for headed tools to be carried on the belt of a person. The holder consists of a plastic mem-.

ber having a portion for suspending from the belt, and including a bifurcated, semi-circular portion extending from the belt holding portion. A two part locking member has one portion in the form of a square-shaped tab, which is secured at one end to the plastic member at the juncture of the belt portion and the bifurcated portion; The other end of the tab member has secured thereto a second semicircular member, forming the other part of the locking member, the second semi-circular member being movable with the tab portion. The second semicircular member receives the head of a tool and rotates along the plastic member, with the tab, allowing the handle of the tool to extend between the bifurcated portion with the second semi-circular member wrapping over the head of the tool, securely locking the tool in the holder.

Background of the invention This invention relates to a tool holder and, more particularly, to a belt attached tool holder for securely holding headed tools, such as hammers, when not in use.

As is well known, hammers and similar headed tools, are widely used by a great variety of people. They are used in many occupations, by the hobbyist, and in sports, such as mountain climbing. In all instances the hammer is only used occasionally, at other times being set aside, or carried in a holder. In many situations it is inconvenient or impossible to set the hammer aside, so provisions must be made for carrying it in some type of holder. However, it is necessary that the holder be such as to hold the hammer securely in place so that it will not be accidentally. dislodged and possibly lost. Also, it will be apparent that a holder must be simple to use and relatively inexpensive so as to be available to users of hammers and similar headed tools.

Therefore, it is one object of this invention to provide a hammer holder which will hold a hammer securely about the person.

A further object of this invention is to provide a hammer holder in which the hammer is securely held I until removed by the user.

A -.still further object of this invention is to provide a secure hammer holder that is simple to use.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a hammer holder which will be relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Summary of the invention Briefly, in one form, this invention comprises a hammer holder having three distinct portions, preferably made from plastic material. The main portion of the holder has a flat portion with means for securing the holder to a belt, and a curved, bifurcated member extending therefrom, the curved member receiving the head of a hammer or the like. The other portions of the holder form a locking member and include a tab member having one end secured to the main portion at the juncture of the fiat portion and the bifurcated member. The other part of the locking member is a curved portion, one end being secured to the other end of the tab member and being movable with such tab member. The curved locking member receives the head of a hammer and is then turned to allow the hammer handle to extend between the curved arms of the bifurcated member. The locking member moves with the tab over the head of the hammer, securely locking the hammer in place inthe holder.

The invention which is sought to be protected will be clearly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims appended hereto. It is believed, however, that this invention, and the manner in which its various objects and advantages are obtained, as well as other objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment, especially when considered in the light of the accompanying drawing.

Brief description of the drawing FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of this invention in position to receive a headed tool;

FIGURE 2 is an end View of the device shown in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing the holder with a headed tool secured there- FIGURE 4 is an end view of the device shown in FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is an end view similar to FIGURES 2 and 4, on a reduced scale, showing the headed tool in an intermediate position.

Description of preferred embodiment The tool holder of this invention provides a locking holder for headed tools, such as hammers or the like. In the preferred form, shown in the drawing, the holder comprises three distinct parts, which may be formed separately or integrally, as desired. Preferably, all of the parts are formed of a plastic material.

Referring now to the drawing, in which like numerals are used to indicate like parts throughout the various views, there is shown a tool holder 10, which comprises the main holder part 12 and the locking part, which comprises tab member 14 and curved locking member 16. The main holder 10 includes the flat portion 20-, which is provided with a pair of slots 22 and 24, which may be used to secured the holder 10 to a belt, in a well known manner. Main holder 12 also includes a curved, bifurcated member 26, having arms 28 and 30, as shown, with the slotted opening 32 between the arms 28 and 30. As will be understood, the curved, bifurcated member 26 has curved arms 28 and 30 curved to hold the head of a tool, such as a hammer. The slotted opening 32 will receive the handle of such tool, as will be more fully explained as the description of the preferred embodiment proceeds.

The tab member 14 is preferably of a square or rectangular shape, as shown, and has one end secured to the main holder part 12, substantially at the juncture of the flat portion 20 and the bifurcated portion 26. Tab 14 may be integral with part 12, if desired. If not integral, tab 14 may be secured to part 12 in any desired manner. In the preferred form shown, it is secured by fasteners 34. Obviously, tab 1 4 could also be bonded along its edge to part 12. As will be understood, tab 14 should be of equal flexibility throughout its length. to fold over the head of a tool carried in the holder 10.

The curved locking member 16 has a curved surface similar to the curve of arms 28 and 30, and has one end secured to the other end of tab 14, as shown. Curved locking members 16 may be secured to tab 14, by means of fasteners 36, or in any other desired manner, as previously discussed with reference to the fastening of tab 14 to main part 12. Of course, it will be understood that parts 14 and 16 may be made integral, if desired. In the preferred form shown, curved locking part 16 is provided with a flat extension 38, slightly narrower than opening 32. The flat portion 38 aids in wrapping or rotating the locking members about the main member, as will now be described.

As is apparent from FIGURES 1 and 2, when the holder is in the position shown, the head of a hammer, shown in phantom lines as 40, may be inserted into the curved locking member 16, with the handle of the hammer extending upward, as shown by phantom lines 42. With the hammer in the position shown in FIGURES l and 2, the handle 42 may be rotated to the right and down toward opening 32. As the hammer is rotated it will engage the extension 38, causing the tab 14 to wrap about part 16. As is best shown in FIGURE 5, as the hammer rotates to the right it causes part 16 to rotate, carrying with it tab 14. As hammer 40 continues to rotate, extension 38 will enter the opening 32, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, and the handle of the hammer will also enter opening 32. Curved locking member 16 will continue to rotate with the hammer, carrying tab 14 therewith. As can be seen from FIGURES 3 and 4, when the hammer completes its rotation the locking members 14 and 16 have rotated therewith and securely locked the hammer in the holder 10. It is a simple matter to merely reverse the rotation of the hammer when it is desired to use it, while it will remain locked securely in the holder during periods of non-use.

In some instances it may be desirable to provide a second extension, extending from the other side of curved locking member 16. Such extension is shown in dotted lines at 38 in FIGURES 1 and 2. Extension 38 will provide a member to be engaged by the hammer handle 42 when the hammer is rotated to remove it from the holder 10.

From the above description it will be apparent that a tool holder has been provided which fills all of the objects of the invention. A particular advantage of the tool holder of this invention is that the hammer or similar headed tool may be inserted into the holder and locked therein with one hand, without changing the grip on the handle. It should also be noted that should a person carrying a hammer in the holder of this invention fall, there is no danger of injury due to the hammer being caught against a projection. As will be clear from the previous description, should the hammer in the holder have the handle caught on a projection during a fall, the hammer would be rotated in the tool holder and released, thus preventing any injury to the person carrying the hammer.

While there has been shown and described the present preferred embodiment of this invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the constructional details of the holder without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A holder for a headed tool comprising;

(a) a main holder portion including a flat part having means to secure the holder to a belt, and an integral, bifurcated portion having a pair of curved arms,

(b) a tab member of regular shape having one end secured to said main holder portion at the juncture of said flat part and said bifurcated portion, and

(c) a curved locking member, said curved locking memher having one end secured to the other end of said tab member such that in one position said curved locking member is spaced from said curved arms and curved in the same direction, and in a second position said curved locking member meets said curved arms and is curved in the opposite direction from said curved arms.

2. A holder for headed tools as claimed in claim 1 in which said curved locking member has a flat extension extending from the end of said curved locking member opposite to said end secured to said other end of said tab.

3. A holder for headed tools as claimed in claim 2 in which said flat extension of said curved locking member extends into the opening between said curved, bifurcated arms when said curved locking member is in said second position.

4. A holder for headed tools as claimed in claim 2 in which a second flat extension is provided on said curved locking member, said second extension extending from the end of said curved locking member secured to said tab member.

4/1912 Laird. 9/1958 Kilpatrick.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner. 

